Chapter 1

Arya’s POV

I stood on the balcony of our apartment in the pack house, my hands gripping the railing as I watched the courtyard below. Evening draped itself over the compound, casting long shadows as pack members moved through the soft golden light, laughing, talking, living. But my heart wasn’t at ease.

James still hadn’t returned from his final meeting with Alpha Marcel of the Silverclaw pack. Every tick of the clock tightened the knot in my stomach. This wasn’t just another political formality; this was the moment everything we’d fought for could either take root or be ripped away.

James and I had poured our souls into building this pack from the ground up. No resources. No allies. Just grit, loyalty, and a dream. If the Silverclaw union accepted us, we’d no longer be exiles scraping out a home on the edges. We’d be recognised. Protected. We’d belong. And I wanted that for him more than anything.

A voice pulled me back to the present.

“Luna Arya, would you like me to do anything before I head home?” Jane asked gently.